This Japanese Monogatari Isn't Lame
Chapter 123 - 122: Divine Body

Chapter 123: Chapter 122: Divine Body

Beichuan Si fell into a deep contemplation.

To be honest, he was still pondering whether or not to trust Magong Yongshi.

After all, nine years had passed; Magong Yongshi might have been completely eroded by vengeful spirits.

According to Magong Yongshi, she could also possibly be suppressed here by the Soul Suppressing Stone.

Beichuan Si knew very little about Magong Yongshi; hence, it was perfectly normal to remain vigilant.

However, if she were a vengeful spirit, her orderly manner of speaking made Beichuan Si hesitate.

A spirit that had turned into a vengeful spirit, at least a mid-level one, was unable to communicate with the living.

It has been mentioned before, vengeful spirits are formed from the deceased’s resentment towards the living.

Since it was purely resentment, it naturally would adopt a hostile attitude towards the living.

But from Magong Yongshi, Beichuan Si sensed no animosity at all, and even Nishijou Kurenai, who was highly sensitive to resentment and hostility, showed no reaction whatsoever.

There’s a saying that goes well: vision limits imagination.

Having only encountered mid-level vengeful spirits, Beichuan Si couldn’t imagine what higher-level vengeful spirits were like.

Do they even have thoughts?

These were unknowns.

Likewise, humans only felt fear towards the unknown.

But—

The resentment within Magong Yongshi certainly did not reach the level of an advanced vengeful spirit, likewise, if she had such capabilities, she wouldn’t have wasted so much time talking, she could have attacked him directly.

Beichuan Si pondered for a long time, and finally spoke, "What do you need me to do?"

For now, the breakthrough lay with Magong Yongshi, so he might as well listen to what she had to say.

Seeing him finally agree, Magong Yongshi let out a small sigh of relief.

Although her being a spiritual body meant that sighing had little effect.

"I hope Mr. Temple can retrieve the crucial stone hidden beneath the coffin—"

Magong Yongshi spoke in a soft and delicate voice, but before she could finish, Beichuan Si interrupted, "Miss Yongshi, you already mentioned that the crucial stone is a vital stone used to suppress the resentments of past Soul Suppressing Sons. How can such an object be recklessly disturbed?"

"Moreover, Miss Yongshi, since you know the location of the crucial stone, why do you need my help? You could have retrieved it yourself."

As Beichuan Si spoke, the suspicion on his face grew more intense.

Facing Beichuan Si’s questions, Magong Yongshi merely smiled lightly, "What I ask Mr. Temple to retrieve is not the crucial stone itself but the stone dew produced from it."

"The crucial stone purifies resentment and produces a unique liquid; the Soul Suppressing Twins, once born, must continually drink the stone dew to enhance their spiritual perception while removing impurities from their minds."

Magong Yongshi continued in her soft, gentle voice, "The crucial stone, being a suppressant of resentment, naturally cannot be disturbed, even the Magong Family Head must seek permission from Shenzhu Shrine to open the stone coffin and extract the stone dew. However, now that the Magong Family and the Shenzhu Family are both in such states, there’s no need for anyone’s consent."

"As for why I don’t retrieve the stone dew myself..." Magong Yongshi sighed faintly, "I am already entangled with resentment. If I get too close to the crucial stone, I will inevitably be suppressed and cleansed."

She then remarked more sternly, "If Mr. Temple truly cannot trust me, I have no other recourse. You are free to continue your exploration in the Magong Family, until you find documents related to the crucial stone and the Fallen Tree before coming to assist me."

"I know, if these matters are not clarified, you will indeed feel concerned, but you should also consider one thing—if my intentions were to harm you, I wouldn’t have spoken so much to you."

A look of serenity appeared on the girl’s pretty face.

Upon seeing her in such a condition, Mr. Temple suddenly had an idea. He asked, "I wonder how far from the stone Miss Yongshi needs to be suppressed?"

Magong Yongshi, ever so wise, understood Mr. Temple’s question immediately. "What do you mean?"

"I would like Miss Yongshi to accompany me to the location of the stone."

Indeed, once they reached the stone, even if Magong Yongshi harbored ill intentions, he could still contend with her using the stone. Not to mention, with the current strength of Magong Yongshi, even if she had other thoughts, Mr. Temple would have no problem leaving.

Magong Yongshi couldn’t help but praise Mr. Temple’s quick reaction.

Just by mentioning the stone, he could think of such a strategy.

Indeed, the stone was a suppressor for countless Soul Suppressing Twins’ grievances and had been consecrated generation after generation by both Shenzhu and Magong families. Any Spiritual Body wrapped in grievances couldn’t approach it closely.

"No problem," Magong Yongshi promptly agreed. "If this can earn your trust, I won’t mind going down."

After agreeing on three rules, Magong Yongshi led Mr. Temple deeper into the crypt.

Along the way, Magong Yongshi shared some fragmented memories with Mr. Temple.

"The Magong family and the Shenzhu family are the two oldest families in Shenzhu Village. The Magong Main Family mainly handles external affairs, such as interacting with local officials and earning money from outside to sustain the operations of both families."

"The Shenzhu Family, on the other hand, mainly takes care of internal affairs and rituals. Shenzhu Shrine atop Shenzhu Mountain is where the Shenzhu Family conducts their activities. Most affairs about the Soul Suppressing Twins are handled by Shenzhu Shrine. I don’t clearly remember the specific rituals, but I vividly remember the ’Divine Body’ of Shenzhu Shrine."

The ’Divine Body’ is a term commonly used in Japan Shrines.

It refers to the object of worship or veneration within the shrine.

This object could be a deity, but it could also be a tree, or even water or fire.

If the ’Divine Body’ is a tree, then this large tree is known as the ’Divine Tree’.

If the ’Divine Body’ is fire, then it is called the ’Divine Fire’.

Magong Yongshi floated in the air, occasionally reaching out to touch Nishijou Kurenai’s little head, amusing Kurenai enough to poke back at her.

She continued, "The ’Divine Body’ of Shenzhu Shrine is a flower."

"The ’Divine Flower’, the ’Soul Summoning Flower’: that’s what people at Shenzhu Shrine call it."

"’Soul Summoning Flower’?"

"Yes, but I’ve forgotten what the flower exactly looks like. I only have a vague impression left in my memory. It’s an incredibly mysterious flower..."

"Really?" Mr. Temple took over the conversation. "If the two of us can collaborate, perhaps you could see the ’Soul Summoning Flower’ bloom again."

But upon hearing this, Magong Yongshi’s beautiful expression revealed an indescribable sadness. She slowly said, "Mr. Temple wants to see the ’Soul Summoning Flower’ bloom, but I do not wish to see it."

"I prefer cherry blossoms."

Magong Yongshi murmured softly,

"I wonder when the mountain cherry blossoms will bloom this year?"

"Will I be able to see the cherry blossoms at the Magong residence bloom again?"

"Cherry blossoms bloom, cherry blossoms bloom—"

"The sky filled with petals as vast as the sea—"

Sensing the sorrow in Magong Yongshi’s tone, Mr. Temple tactfully refrained from speaking and quietly lifted the lid of the crypt in the underworld palace.

Beneath the lid was a passage leading to the underground chamber, grim and profound.

And there, the stone was hidden.